This slow cooker recipe for Jack Daniels Pulled Pork is my go-to; it makes the best pulled pork ever and is easy to make. Budget-friendly succulent pork shoulder slow cooks in Jack Daniels forming an irresistible whiskey bbq sauce.
Serve it on rolls, toast, in tacos, on pizza, or simply on a fork! I mean honestly. How could this be anything less than sublime?.
And sublime it is. This juicy, fall-apart tender slow cooker pulled pork in sauce is enough to make me weep happy tears. If you’re looking for a special touch for an upcoming game day party, look no further!.
I’m aware that you can buy this already made, and this isn’t going to be a commercial for Jack Daniels Pulled Pork. Let’s just remember that homemade is almost always better. This time the truism is truly true.
In fact, I think Mr. Jack Daniel himself would approve of this insanely delectable pulled pork. You get the effect of a bbq spice rubbed, smoked pulled pork with a fraction of the effort.
Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey is a famous American brand that is known for its flavor that has been mellowed by charcoal and its link to barbecue. You can find Jack Daniel’s barbecue sauce and even pulled pork in grocery stores all over the country. But for people who don’t drink, an important question comes up: does the whiskey used to flavor Jack Daniel’s pulled pork leave behind any alcohol?
In this article, we’ll analyze how alcohol behaves during cooking and take a closer look at how Jack Daniel’s pulled pork is made. We’ll provide the facts on whether it contains alcohol or is considered permissible for those abstaining for religious, health or personal reasons.
How Alcohol Changes During Cooking
Alcohol has a lower boiling point (around 173°F) compared to water (212°F). This means alcohol evaporates more quickly when heated. However, the amount retained depends on cooking time and method.
According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA):
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Alcohol boiled briefly for just 2-3 minutes retains 85% of original alcohol.
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Baked/simmered dishes cooked for 15 minutes retain 40% alcohol
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Foods ** Baked/simmered for 1-2 hours retain only 5-10% alcohol.
So length of cooking has a significant impact on residual alcohol level. Now let’s see how this applies to Jack Daniel’s pulled pork.
How Jack Daniel’s Pulled Pork is Made
Jack Daniel’s offers ready-to-eat pulled pork either refrigerated or frozen. It is marketed as being “marinated in Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey and honey.”
Based on their methods the pork shoulder is
- Marinated for at least 4 hours in a blend of Jack Daniel’s Whiskey, honey, and spices
- Simmered in the marinade until fork tender (at least 1 hour)
- Shredded and tossed in the cooking liquid to absorb flavors
This multi-hour cooking process far exceeds the minimum time required for almost complete alcohol evaporation.
Does Jack Daniel’s Pulled Pork Contain Traces of Alcohol?
Based on the slow cooking time of at least 1 hour after marinating, it is unlikely any appreciable alcohol remains in Jack Daniel’s pulled pork.
The USDA has stated foods simmered or baked for over 90 minutes retain only 5-10% of the original alcohol added. And pulled pork requires a cooking time of 1-2 hours.
Additionally, the final internal temperature for safe pork needs to reach at least 145°F, well above alcohol’s boiling point. This further ensures all alcohol evaporates during cooking.
Therefore, while some minute traces of alcohol may remain, Jack Daniel’s pulled pork is considered alcohol-free from a food safety and dietary restriction standpoint.
Jack Daniel’s Pulled Pork and Religious/Dietary Restrictions
The negligible alcohol content means Jack Daniel’s pulled pork should be permissible for those abstaining from alcohol for religious or health reasons, including:
- Muslims following halal diets
- Catholics practicing temperance
- People avoiding alcohol addiction triggers
- Those with alcohol intolerance
However, it’s always best to verify with your own religious or dietary authorities to be 100% certain an item complies with your required restrictions.
Reheating Leftover Pulled Pork
If reheating leftover Jack Daniel’s pulled pork, it’s recommend to use the oven or stove top to ensure the pork reaches 165°F internally. Reheating in the microwave can lead to uneven heating.
Bring refrigerated pulled pork to room temperature before reheating. Then place in a lightly greased oven-safe dish, cover with foil, and bake at 350°F for 15-20 minutes until hot throughout. Stovetop reheating should be done in a skillet over medium heat with a splash of chicken or vegetable broth to add moisture.
The Verdict on Alcohol in Jack Daniel’s Pulled Pork
While Jack Daniel’s whiskey is used in the recipe, the lengthy cooking process ensures all alcohol content has fully evaporated by the time the pulled pork is ready to enjoy. For those avoiding alcohol, Jack Daniel’s pulled pork can be considered permissible given the negligible traces remaining after cooking. However, it’s smart to verify with any official dietary or religious resources you follow to be absolutely certain.
Jack Daniels Pulled Pork Instructions
Before we dive into the instructions, let’s go over our ingredients and equipment lists. Don’t let the length of the ingredient list daunt you; you might have everything in your pantry already!.
- Cooking Onions
- Garlic Cloves (or Granulated Garlic or Garlic Powder)
- Bone-In or Boneless Pork Shoulder
- Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey
- Ketchup
- Dark Brown Sugar
- Dijon Mustard
- Worcestershire Sauce or Soy Sauce
- Tomato Paste
- Salt
- Black Pepper
- Cayenne Pepper or crushed dark chili pepper flakes
- Bay Leaves
Not so bad, right? They’re all pretty common ingredients and there’s no insane prep needed. The majority of the work is quite literally cutting the onion and measuring things.
The equipment list is quite short and also pretty ubiquitous. You can make this in a Dutch oven instead of a slow cooker if you don’t have one or don’t want to use one. But I love how this recipe turns out.
And even more than that, I love coming home to the smell of crockpot pulled pork. You can make it on even the busiest days because all you have to do is put everything in the crockpot and let it cook.
Jack Daniels Pulled Pork Recipe
It’s equally true that this recipe yields quite a lot of pulled pork. This is great news because it freezes and reheats beautifully! I’ve also included heating instructions on the printable recipe card.
Bone-in Pork shoulder is one of the most budget-friendly cuts of meat in existence. Where I live, it’s about $1. 69 per pound and that’s music to this mom-of-five’s ears.
Boneless pork shoulder is also economical, if slightly less so than the bone-in variety. I prefer the bone-in both for the lower cost and the more profound flavour. Use whichever you like best!.
You can start this tasty pulled pork in the crockpot in the morning and eat it for dinner that same night, or you can split the work up over two days. You can cook it overnight and then put it in a container in the fridge to cool during the day. This will make it easier to handle.
The pork shoulder is easiest to shred when it’s still hot, so I like to work with it when it’s still ready to fall apart. For those who want to remove more fat from the meat, I will say that it is easier to do so when it is cold, but you can do it however you like.
This was a bit of a surprise for me when I went to the liquor store to get a bottle of Jack Daniels. There are SO many options!.
What you’re looking for is a bottle of Jack Daniels “ Own Tennessee Whiskey ”. To expound, you want the bottle with the black label that says “Jack Daniels Old No. 7 Tennesee Sour Mash Whiskey”.
That being said, I believe Jack Daniels is the best whiskey for this recipe because its unique, smokey flavor goes well with barbecue flavors. The unique mellow taste of Jack Daniel’s whiskey makes the perfect barbecue sauce.
I know that there is a Signature Jack Daniel’s BBQ sauce that you can buy, but the one that you make at home by slow cooking pork shoulder in your own sauce is thousands of times better. The notes of dark brown sugar and rich ripe tomato are unbeatable.
For those who like bourbon, you could easily change it to bourbon pulled pork by adding your favorite drink. I wouldn’t use the store’s cheapest whiskey, though, just because the best ingredients make the best product in the end!
You should be able to find Jack Daniels in almost any liquor store in the United States. Keep in mind that you’ll be using a full cup of it, so it’s cheaper to buy a bigger bottle than a bunch of the small airplane-sized bottles.
If you are wondering if this is safe to serve to kids, I can say that it is! There is a cup of whiskey in the dish, but most of it evaporates during the first cook, and there is almost no alcohol left in the sauce after it has been reduced a lot.
According to the US Department of Agriculture, alcohol is burned off at a lower temperature than water boiling. They say that food needs to be cooked for about three hours to get rid of all traces of alcohol. There shouldn’t be any alcohol left in the final dish because it cooks longer than the first one and the pan juices reduce quickly.
If you have someone in your home in recovery, though, please tell them about the ingredients. They may be more comfortable eating something else.
Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 BBQ Pulled Pork Review
What is Jack Daniels pulled pork?
Jack Daniel’s Pulled Pork Jack Daniel’s Pulled Pork Jack Daniel’s Pulled Pork is a well-crafted BBQ, starting with a special Jack Daniel’s spice rub, then the pork shoulder is smoked for hours with hardwoods. The next step is shredding the pork, homestyle, and combining with signature Jack Daniel’s BBQ sauce.
Is Jack Daniels BBQ sauce good for pulled pork?
The Jack Daniels BBQ sauce is the perfect balance of sweetness and smoky flavors. Making pulled pork that is juicy and flavorful can be a challenging task. However, there are some tips to ensure that your Jack Daniels pulled pork recipe turns out perfect. Here are a few things to keep in mind: 1. Slow-Cooking Is Key
What is Jack Daniels Tennessee Honey pulled pork?
Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey Pulled Pork is a BBQ flavor innovation. The pork shoulders are spice rubbed and smoked for hours with hardwoods, then shredded and combined with the light and mellow Tennessee Honey BBQ sauce.
What does Jack Daniel’s Tennessee whiskey sauce taste like?
The sauce is kettle cooked with balanced notes of dark brown sugar, rich ripe tomato, apple cider vinegar, and the unique flavor of Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey! This flavorful pork is both tender & juicy. ingredients